Jenneke

Introduce the idea of equivalent fractions with this guided exploration using pattern blocks. Students are asked to explore, construct meaning, and generalize to novel situations about equivalent fractions.

Students explore parallel and perpendicular lines with this mapping activity that ties in nicely with social studies & geography. In one version, students are encouraged to make their own map and analyze the lines. In another version (typically given for homework), students analyze a completed map. Includes: *Directions *Checklist *Rubric *Homework/Alternate Version with extensions

These handouts explain R.A.F.T.S. prompts to students. R.A.F.T.S. prompts help students think about audience and purpose of writing while zeroing in on the 6 traits (ideas, organization, word choice, voice, sentence fluency, conventions). R = Role A = Audience F = format T = topic S = strong verb Includes several hand-outs that reinforce the gradual release of responsibility: (1) explaining/modeling (2) guided practice evaluating a R.A.F.T.S. prompt response (3) independent practice writing a r

I used this organizer with my class during our immigration unit; students were asked to interview their parents about their family migration history. When did they come to the US? What pushes/pulls influenced the move?

In this activity, students analyze the pushes and pulls that influenced an immigrant to emigrate from their home country. Five sample scenarios are given, and students analyze the motivations. Includes a reading on pushes & pulls in the context of immigration. In my classroom, students completed this activity in pairs. They had to verbalize their justification to their peers before writing.

Students will explore the properties of both line and rotational symmetry using 10 shapes in the context of a real-world problem. **Tiered & Differentiated** Includes three task cards: pink (least complex), orange (average complexity) and green (most complex). Differentiate by readiness. All students use the same materials (shapes A - J) and role analysis sheet (using R.A.F.T.S.). Also includes two challenge/extension pages for students that finish early.

Peer editing and writers' clubs can be powerful tools within the framework of your Writing Workshop. Students will employ higher order thinking skills like evaluation and analysis as they read and discuss one another's work. But how do we organize these routines? Use these graphic organizers, procedural handouts, and checklists to help facilitate. You'll have students living and breathing the writing process!

Buddy Reading Students reading and discussing literature in pairs can be a really worthwhile experience -- but how to keep them on task and organized? These files help to model expectations and track progress! Students can use these sample responses and graphic organizers as models for their own work, and several fun projects (organized by multiple intelligence) are included for assessment.

Students will study the genre of persuasive writing through movie reviews. Students will analyze the components of these writing genre, give support for their thinking, and organize their writing like the model texts. Fits nicely into readers' and writers' workshop, and hits your state benchmarks for writing and analyzing literature. My students loved the authenticity of this unit -- they were able to be like real movie reviewers and learn how to make their arguments more persuasive through su

Students classify animals as carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores. Quick activity to supplement lesson, 2 versions.

This mini-unit is intended to supplement your core curriculum. It takes a constructivist approach as students build their own understanding of what it means to communicate well in mathematics (particularly in writing) by analyzing student work and producing their own samples. Anchor papers and ideas for anchor charts are included. This unit is broken down into 5 units, each of which comes with a lesson plan, hand outs, and a homework assignment. Lessons may also be modified slightly to fit wi

Students explore the difference between theoretical and experimental probability, and deduce the law of large numbers, using M&Ms and the scientific methods. Students will question, make predictions, gather and analyze data, and draw conclusions.

Sometimes it can be overwhelming to think about all of the procedures we need to teach in the first few weeks of school! I designed this checklist to guide me through my first few days. As I modeled the procedure, I checked it off on the checklist. This helped me keep my sanity as I learned more about my class, established a positive classroom community, and began our learning routines.

Students follow the scientific method as they conduct a survey of peers, family and friends. Students will represent the data using an appropriate graph, analyze responses, and draw conclusions.

Students explore the motivations and experiences of early 20th century and modern (21st century) immigrants through musical theater. Students are encouraged to support their ideas using specific textual evidence in both their writing and exploration of these questions. In "Ragtime," students encounter historical figures like Henry Ford, J.P. Morgan, and Harry Houdini, juxtaposed with the fictional Tateh who immigrated from Latvia in 1906. Students analyze what may have pushed or pulled the cha

Students love tying in their knowledge of coordinate points and graphing in math to characters like Kissin' Kate Barlow from "Holes," by Louis Sachar. Enjoy the game!

Students will synthesize their knowledge of animal diet classifications (carnivore/herbivore/omnivore) with their knowledge of the transfer of energy through an ecosystem. This project requires students to conduct their own research about a specific ecosystem (e.g. desert, tundra, coral reef) and construct a food web based on the organisms they researched.

**Tiered & Differentiated** Students explore the properties of area and perimeter (using whole numbers) within a real-world context. Included in this lesson are 3 tiers (color-coded) for differentiation, three graphic organizers to provide scaffolded support, and quick rubrics for assessment. This is an excellent supplement to your regular math routines that promotes critical thinking and generalizing about math.

This handout helps students convert between customary and metric units of measurement dealing with length.

Practice computation and fluency with operations using decimals (including addition and multiplication) as students calculate the timecards for several different office employees. Students also practice elapsed time. **Tiered and Differentiated** Least complex: Dwight Average complexity: Pam & Jim Most complex: Kevin